Action cameras aren’t just ruggedized and protected against the elements, they offer ultrawide viewing angles to capture the full experience of ski runs, skateboard tricks, snorkeling adventures or just pet antics (several companies make harnesses for your dog). And after testing a number of action cameras in a variety of conditions, including a mountain biking trip and a rafting adventure, we have action cam recommendations for every budget.

The GoPro Hero5 ($399) is our pick for the best action camera overall, because it offers the best video quality, is waterproof to 33 feet without requiring a protective shell, has a built-in touch screen and responds to voice commands.

GoPro entire lineup consists of three cameras, the Hero5, the Hero5 Session ($299) and the Hero Session ($199). If you're having trouble deciding which GoPro or GoPro add-ons to purchase, check out our GoPro Buying Guide and list of the 20 Best GoPro Accessories.

If you're looking for something a bit less expensive, the Kodak PixPro SP1 is our current favorite budget action cam. For half the price of the Hero5, the PixPro SP1 features full HD video recording, the ability to shoot 14-MP stills, and the same 33-feet of water resistance.

Finally for people who just need something compact that they can strap to a helmet or backpack, the GoPro5 Hero Session features the same level of rugged durability as the Hero5, but in a body that's almost 50 percent lighter and significantly smaller. While it doesn't have a touchscreen, the Session can record in 4K.

Although the name brand "GoPro" has become synonymous with "action cams", the market has been inundated with new models at significantly lower prices. For example, theFITFORT Action Camera , also 4K capable, sells for $63.99, and has a very strong 4.5-star rating on Amazon. So, if GoPro, Kodak, or Sony action cams are out of your price range, you can still find more models that fit your budget.

Best Overall

GoPro's newest flagship camera sports a major redesign, and is now waterproof to 33 feet without needing a case. It has a rear 2-inch color touch-screen LCD that makes navigating the camera easy. And for those moments when you can’t reach it, you can control it via voice commands. Plus, this 4K shooter has image stabilization, and lasted nearly 2 hours on a charge. As always, video quality from the GoPro was top-notch.

Best Budget Action Camera

Kodak's action camera is an outstanding bargain. For half the price of the GoPro Hero4 Silver, it offers video quality that is respectably close, by good light. The Pixpro SP1 also doesn't require a case to be waterproof (as the Hero4 Silver and Hero4 Black do) and can survive a dunk down to 33 feet. The Pixpro SP1 is the only camera we tested, aside from the Hero4 Silver, to offer a color LCD screen. The panel makes framing shots and changing settings much easier than do other action cameras.

With video quality rivaling that of the GoPro Hero5, Garmin's action camera deserves a spot on the podium. Plus, you can link this camera to fitness devices, and overlay data from your adventures ― like speed and altitude ― onto the videos. The Virb has voice commands like the Hero5, but it wasn't as precise or as extensive. We also wish that it didn't require a case to make it waterproof, but we can live with these trade-offs for its excellent video.

Garmin Virb Ultra 30

GoPro Hero5 Session

Most Compact Action Camera

Like the original GoPro Hero Session, the Hero5 Session offers excellent image quality comparable to its big siblings (4K/30 fps), but in a much smaller package. It has many of the same specs as the previous version, including being waterproof (to 33 feet) without requiring GoPro's bulky protective housing, but now includes image stabilization and Bluetooth. The most compelling feature, though, is voice control: There are about a dozen commands to choose from, including “GoPro, start recording," or “GoPro, start time-lapse.”

What GoPro Hero5 Session Owners Are Saying

Likes:Amazon customers liked the Hero5 Session's video quality, which they found was a significant improvement over the Hero Session, and were impressed with the image stabilization. There were some owners that also liked the variety of shooting options and settings, and that it's rugged and waterproof. They also liked that it's very easy to use. Others found wind and noise cancellation to be very good, as well.

Dislikes:Like many action cams, performance in low light is not great. Other owner cons included problems with the GoPro's auto upload cloud feature, microSD card compatibility, and having issues with connecting the mobile app to the action cam. Some were also disappointed with the quality of customer service support.

How We Tested

We review action cameras based on a number of factors, including video and image quality, ease of use, features (including waterproofing) and value. In order to provide the most meaningful comparisons, we test cameras side-by-side, shooting at 1080p resolution and 60fps, when possible (some cameras can do only 30fps). We also shoot 4K videos from the cameras that support that resolution. We take the cameras biking, canoeing and running (among others), and see how they hold up in the elements.

What to Look For

Your choice of camera depends mostly on the kind of activities you want to shoot. Love the water? Most action cameras are waterproof, but some can only survive just a few feet underwater, which is fine for surfing or boating, while others can withstand depths of up to 160 feet meters, which is makes those much better for SCUBA divers.

Size and heft matter, especially if you will be mounting the camera onhelmet. Weights vary from 2.6to more thanfive ounces. Another feature you want to consider is mounting options. The most versatile action cams, such as those from GoPro, will have accessory mounts for just about any situation, from surfing to skiing.

Image quality, especially in daylight, is the most important consideration. However, ease of use is also critical, as confusing controls can cause you to miss that killer clip or shoot it on the wrong settings. Some cameras can even be paired with a smartphone for wireless shooting and image sharing.

New & Notable Action Cams

Sony Style

Sony DSC-RX0

$700 Suggested price

Sony's DSC-RX0 combines the features of its RX-series cameras (a 15.3 MP6 Exmor RS CMOS image sensor, BIONZ X processor and a wide-angle ZEISS Tessar T* 24mm F4 fixed lens) in a compact (2.4 x 1.6 x 1.2) case that weighs 3.9 ounces. The camera can record super slow motion (up to 960 fps), and can capture images in RAW format. It's waterproof to up to 33 feet, and can be dropped from as much as 6.5 feet. But it won't be cheap: The RX0 will cost $700 when it ships in October.

Michael A. Prospero is the reviews editor at Laptop Mag and Tom’s Guide. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest kitchen gadget.